Athletics is one of the most thrilling events in the Olympic Games, but it remains undervalued by the general public-especially in women’s sports. Alexis Ohanian, however, is on a mission to change that narrative, and his wife, Serena Williams, couldn’t be prouder.
In April 2024, Ohanian launched the Athlos initiative under the banner of “Athlete First.” Previously known as the 776 Invitational, this competition will exclusively feature female sprinters and offer an unprecedented prize pool, including $60,000 for each gold medal winner.
Ohanian’s efforts have gained significant momentum, with several top-tier athletes already confirming their participation. Among them are Olympic medalist Gabby Thomas, Faith Kipyegon, Alexis Holmes, Torrie Lewis, Annie Tagoe, and Lieke Klaver, among others.
In addition to the first-place prize, second place will earn $25,000, third $10,000, fourth $8,000, fifth $5,000, and sixth $2,500. To further empower the athletes, Ohanian will distribute 10% of the event’s revenue among all competitors.
These women aren’t just athletes, they’re trailblazers changing the course of history — telling their story one race at a time.
It's never been about the money for them, it's for the love of the sport 💥 pic.twitter.com/FmkM0MQh2X
— ATHLOS (@athlos) August 16, 2024
Serena Williams’ proud reaction
Just over a month before the star-studded event, Serena took to Twitter to share her excitement, retweeting a CBS report about the competition.
“Have you heard about this @athlos?” Williams wrote. “@alexisohanian does it again. The biggest supporter and advocate of women’s sports now bringing the biggest check to women’s track.”
CBS Mornings, which aired the report, noted that instead of traditional medals, the winners will receive custom Tiffany’s crowns. “This is just the start,” Ohanian assured the media, hinting at the future expansion of his groundbreaking initiative.
Ohanian’s track record
Women’s sports often face an uphill battle for viewership and sponsorships-even in popular sports like soccer and basketball. Ohanian, the co-founder and former CEO of Reddit, is determined to change that.
With an estimated net worth of $70 million, Ohanian has been a relentless champion of women’s sports. In 2020, he partnered with several high-profile female celebrities to launch Angel City FC, a National Women’s Soccer League franchise.
After a brief hiatus to attend the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with Serena and their duaghter, Olympia, Ohanian has turned his full attention to Athlos, an initiative that could reshape the future of women’s sports globally.
